Chapter 13 - Were you not going to kill us

The morning air brought a cold breeze, chilling the room.

I stood staring at the destruction caused by Doran. The foot imprints to the buildings smashed through, all kept my attention.

Shuffling could be heard from behind. It appears others were waking. I kept my sights to the outside, enjoying the open air as Layla was woken from the resting party’s movement.

“Conrad! You’re okay!” She jumped into an embrace.

“Ow-” Conrad winced.

“S- Sorry!” She backed off, giving him a moment to recuperate.

“What... What happened?” He asked, rubbing his head and looking to the messy environment. He felt the silky purple hued blankets, wandering onto my just standing at the destroyed wall. “Where’s the Goddess?”

Layla lowered her head to the big question. I couldn’t care to respond.

“Owwww...” A fat man picked himself off the ground, rubbing his head where rubble had hit him. “Hey! What happened!? Where’s the Goddess!?”

I was irked by Lard's sudden questioning, even in my dread I could still be annoyed.

“They got away.” I stated monotone.

“Huh!?” Lard was frustrated. “How did this happen!? Where did they take her?!”

Me and Layla kept quiet, Lard paused as he came to the realization.

We sat in defeated silence. Conrad clenched his fist in frustration.

“We have to save her. We have to- Ouch!” He winced as he tried to get up.

“Take it easy, you’re still wounded.” Layla urged, Conrad pondered for a moment.

He threw the blanket off his body, scared to see what he would find.

“Aren't you lucky. You got back what you had lost. All because of the Goddess’s blood.” I humored as Conrad studied the scarring where his foot was cut off, his toes working as he intended.

“The Goddess’s blood? What are you talking about?”

My eyes raised to Lard’s question. I was not expecting him to ask that.

“Are... Are you saying you don’t know where that holy water you’ve been selling came from?”

“It comes from the Goddess’s blessing of our water. Discordia discovered that when the Goddess stayed the first night here, said her cup of water had turned blue with prayer.” Lard’s statement had my mind in a loop.

“You’re telling me Discordia brought you this “holy water.” And not only did you never investigate its source. But never questioned the Goddess's withered state nor had the mind to ask?” An emotion brewed in my chest.

“I wouldn’t dare intrude into the Goddess’s chambers! Discordia told me it is unwise to disturb the Goddess as she performed her miracles-”

“What are you doing!?” Layla shouted.

Lard was afraid, trembling as I held him by the Collar. “Are you a fucking idiot?”

Lard teleported himself a few steps back, terrified by my expression.

“I- I did what I thought was best for the Goddess! I recognize the discomfort I caused by hiding her away! But it was for her own-”

“Shut up already.” I ordered monotone, the others taken aback.

“I don’t care for your reasons. Or even your perverted, twisted sense of royalty. You let someone else control your actions. Even in your sick passion for the Goddess, you let one person deter you. If you even once just followed your nature and seen the Goddess, you would’ve been able to preemptively control the situation.”

“P- Preemptively control the situation? What the hell are you talking about!?”

I sighed to Lards follow up question, rubbing my brow in frustration.

“Now we have the next part of the narrative to deal with and start our stupid journey.”

“Huh?” All three were confused by my statement. Before they could ask further, the sudden sounds of strong winds garnered our attention.

“Let’s just get this over with.” I stated, uncaring to what unfolds next.

We made our way up the church’s stairs, Layla and I supported Conrad as he limped, Lard has already teleported to the entrance.

“I can still fight... Let me save this town...” He pleaded, wincing with each step.

“Take it easy Conrad, we’ll get this figured out, let's just talk things over for now, okay?” Layla softly asked. Conrad’s brow furrowed with thought, he took just a moment before nodding disgruntled. I couldn’t care.

We made our way through the grand church’s pews. I studied where Doran had swiped his claws through. The Goddess was decapitated, her blushing head cracked as it rested on the floor. I wished Lard’s persona was damaged instead.

Opening the entrance doors, we were greeted by the intimidating dragon.

It’s red scales still as glistening as ever as its proud head hovered over Gideon. Lard cowered in front of his stature, mumbling words.

“A- Ah, see. Our champion was wounded in last night's attack. Can we postpone for another day?” Lard begged, gesturing to the hurt Conrad.

“Hmph.” Gideon’s glare had Lard shaking. “You are still here. You are a brave one.”

I freed myself from assisting, making my way over to the meeting.

I noticed another figure, one encased in armor off to the side.

“It appears we had wasted you time in finding a champion for today's match.” I stated, noting an aura of frustration.

“Hm. Indeed. Hence my question, why have you remained?” Gideon seemed conflicted by my presence.

“It seems in her goal of blessing the lands, the Goddess had made herself a target. Last night, we were attacked by agents for the Demon King. The very Priestess who had been a great asset to the town had betrayed them, taking the Goddess and soaring on dragon back to the Demon king's castle.”

Gideon furrowed his brow in surprise, his quick glance to the shocked and terrified Lard gave confirmation.

“Then it is best we stop them before they arrive at the demon king’s front steps.” Gideon waved his arms up, ready to leave.

“Wait.” I interrupted. “Aren't you forgetting something?”

“Hm?” Gideon was taken aback. “What am I forgetting, boy?”

His eyes glared a terrible fright.

“The Goddess isn’t here. Are you not to burn the town, slaughter its citizens like you said?”

Lard and the others let their jaws drop in astonishment to my statement, appalled I would remind him.

“Hmph. You are correct over my words. I apologize if it had brought undue stress. The damage done to your place of worship shows you had been attacked, I am sorry for your troubles.”

Now I was taken aback, his genuine apology had me curious. My intrigue got the better of me. I noticed a faint Golden glow from a bag on his waist.

“How do you plan to find the Goddess?” I asked curious.

“My dragon can sense her mighty power. It can lead us.” He stated confidently.

“Then let me ask you this instead. If you changed your mind to slaughtering us seeing evidence of an attack here. And knowing the Goddess isn’t here via the tracking of the dragon. Why didn’t you immediately try to chase after her?”

Gideon was quiet to my observation, my question paid off.

“You dare ask Gideon of his thinking. Such a fool.” The figure in armor spoke up, feminine yet strong.

“Quiet Audrey. Temper your words.”

“I’m sorry my lord.” She bowed in a manner akin to royalty, my intrigue took note.

“You have quite a way of seeing the situation. I applaud you.”

“Thank you.” I took his words as a compliment, Conrad seemed impressed.

“I should have expected you would catch on. But no less, we cannot track the Goddess no more.”

Gideon shared truthfully, the lady in armor seemed ashamed by this as well.

He lied and came down here. He has a reason for doing so. I was not so entertained compared to last night, but I found some motivation.

“Were you concerned I had sent the Goddess back?” Gideon’s shift told me I was correct. “The Goddess has been weakened. In her stated I cannot send her back to the hillside of reincarnation from here.”

“Hm. Would sending her back help recover her strength?” Gideon asked.

There were no murmurs to my statement, everyone here was aware of the same hillside I had awoken too after death. Why doesn’t Discordia know?

“Correct.” I lied, unknowing if it would. "With the demon king’s presence as well, there would still be trouble in sending her back. So, our goal should be to recover the Goddess before they arrival at the castle and defeat the demon king as intended.”

“You make it sound so simple. But without our tracking we will get nowhere. Gideon lord I implore you, let’s stop wasting our time with these fools and charge right for the demon’s gates.” Audrey urged.

“Hm. You are correct. I am sorry, but without the Goddess’s location or way of tracking our focus will have to turn back onto her mission. I am sorry.” Gideon bowed.

All three eyes of those around me watched eagerly, relying on my approach. I got wrapped up in thought. Gideon readied the straps of his dragon, Audrey helping.

I don’t want to fall into this story. I believed this was going to be my life to live or at least experience the unknown. But it always comes back, it turns into a narrative.

I don’t care and can’t. The others put their trust in me for a reason I could tell why. I had no relations to Conrad, even sarcastically remarked on the Goddess’s blessing for his reattached foot. Lard I just hate and him the same, but his eyes spelled confidence in my ability.

And Layla... I had been using her to figure somethings out about the world and society. Her earnest eyes tell me she still believes in my false Godhood despite her clear distaste for my actions last night. But why? Why are these people so willing to trust in me and my lies.

A subtle itch small and present made its way into my brain as I questioned things, an itch that was different from the others.

I sighed. I will give this world one more chance.

“Gideon!” I spoke up getting his and Audrey’s attention.

“Our conversation is done. We must hurry and-”

“That bag around your waist on your right. There is a blue vial inside it is there not?”

Gideon stood firm yet curious to my statement, everyone’s eyes turned in intrigue.

“Hmph.” he grunted. Rather than denying he dug into the bag and pulled out the liquid.

“The Goddess’s holy water...” Lard was amazed, confusion filled the atmosphere.

“That is a neat trick, boy. Tell me, how did you know?” He was caught in my trap.

“Audrey, you also have that vial. Hidden in your armor on your left hip.” I pointed.

“H- How do you know?” She was caught off guard, no one understood what was going on.

“God sir. How are you doing that?” Layla was amazed, unable to hold back her words.

I stood strong, but longing for something. I want something exciting.

“You are a clever, boy. We have fallen for your words before and allowed ourselves to be warped in your games long enough.”

“Then let’s not waste time. How about a new challenge?”

“Huh?” Jaws dropped at my proposal. Conrad was scared from behind over the idea of a fight.

“Another challenge. Your challenger is wounded. He cannot possibly-”

“No.” I stopped Gideon’s assumption. “Not a challenge of representatives. One that you may find interesting.”

My own intrigue liked my plan. A growing satisfaction for the event brewed in my chest.

“Then tell me, boy. What do you propose?”

I smiled wide, Gideon had fallen for another one of my traps.

“A challenge to decide what we will do next, one that will be beyond simple and clear of our abilities. It will be you, and all your men, against three of us.”